MLK Day March and I-35 Bridge Reconstruction Drive Monday Traffic Patterns

Holiday Traffic Overview

Today, Monday, January 19, 2026, traffic patterns across Austin are heavily influenced by the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. While overall regional commuting volumes are expected to be lighter than a standard Monday due to the federal holiday, localized disruptions will be significant in the downtown corridor and along the I-35 corridor. Residents should expect heavy pedestrian activity and multiple road closures throughout the late morning and early afternoon.

MLK Community March and Downtown Closures

The annual MLK Community March and Festival is the primary event today, resulting in major closures in Central and East Austin. The march is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM at the south steps of the Texas State Capitol and will proceed to Huston-Tillotson University. To accommodate the procession, the following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic until approximately 3:00 PM:

• San Jacinto Boulevard between 11th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
• East 11th Street from Congress Avenue through to Chicon Street.
• Sections of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near the University of Texas campus.

Additionally, a block of Cesar Chavez Street downtown remains closed through the end of today. Motorists are advised to use alternative east-west routes such as 7th Street or 15th Street to avoid the march route. Police will be directing traffic at key intersections, but delays are inevitable near the Capitol grounds.

I-35 Capital Express Construction Updates

Work on the I-35 Capital Express project continues to impact several segments of the highway. In the Central segment, crews are currently focused on the reconstruction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge. While major lane closures are typically minimized on holidays, drivers should remain alert for modified lane configurations and narrow lanes near the bridge site. In North Austin, frontage roads between SH 45 North and Grand Avenue Parkway remain reduced to a single lane in several areas. In the South segment, ongoing construction of elevated managed lanes between SH 71 and SH 45 Southeast continues with shoulder closures and restricted access to some exit ramps near William Cannon Drive.

CapMetro Holiday Service and Detours

Capital Metro is operating on a Saturday-level service schedule today in recognition of the holiday. Commuters should note that there is no MetroRail, UT Shuttle, or Express bus service active today. Due to the MLK Day March, several bus routes are being detoured away from their usual downtown paths. Impacted routes include 2, 5, 7, 10, and 837. Riders are encouraged to check the mobile app for real-time arrival updates and detour stop locations, particularly if traveling near San Jacinto or 11th Street.

Commuter Recommendations

If you must travel through the city center, consider using MoPac (Loop 1) as a north-south alternative to I-35. For those attending the festival at Huston-Tillotson University, free parking is available at the State Visitors Garage at 12th and San Jacinto, though access may be limited during the peak of the march. Regular traffic schedules and full CapMetro service will resume tomorrow morning, January 20.